2024-09-06 02:48:32
In yesterday’s televised address, President Gustavo Petro revealed that the government of Iván Duque, through the Police Intelligence Directorate (Dipol), acquired the Israeli spy software Pegasus, used to carry out illegal interceptions of communications, for an amount of 11 million dollars in cash.
President Petro expressed his astonishment and indignation at the irregularities in this purchase, openly questioning the process.How 11 million dollars in cash leave the country, from state offices, perhaps from Dipol, to Israel to buy software that spies on cell phones?” the president asked. This statement raises a series of questions about the use of this software, which, according to Petro, was acquired to intercept communications without the proper judicial authorization.
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The Pegasus software, developed by Israeli company NSO Group Technologies Ltd., has been the subject of international controversyas it has been used in several countries to spy on politicians, journalists and activists. According to Petro’s complaint, its acquisition in Colombia took place during the social outbreak of 2021, when thousands of young people were protesting in the streets and facing strong state repression.
«We are faced with a chain of crimes that includes money laundering by public officials, internal espionage without a court order, crimes against a foreign country whose perpetrators may be extraditable, and unlimited corruption.“, said President Petro. He also stressed that the purchase operation took place in the midst of a climate of repression, where young protesters were killed, teenage women were raped and thousands of students were arrested.
The president went further and compared this situation to the famous Watergate scandal in the United States, pointing out that this espionage case in Colombia would surpass it in seriousness. “Nixon’s Watergate would pale with envy,” said Petro, who also pointed to the impunity that, according to him, has characterized the judicial and administrative control institutions in Colombia, which did not investigate or reveal these events.
According to the president, the interceptions were intended to spy on the political opposition.among other actors, in order to weaken their chances of electoral success.
The accusations presented by the president also point to the possibility of “unholy” international alliances that may have collaborated in these violations of citizens’ rights, and he assured that those responsible could face legal proceedings abroad, given the magnitude of the crimes reported.
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